Starting device for automobiles.



13, 1917. 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

momm- Patented Feb C. B. MILLS.

STARTING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED munza. 1913.

c. B. MILLS.

I STARTING DEVICE FUR'AU-TOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, I913. 1,215,568. Patented lreb. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

5 av Afionuiv UNITED strars sg f renr OFFICE."

CHESTER TB. MILLS, OF EAST MGKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGH'OR T0WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPOBA'] ION OFPENNSYL- VANIA.

STABTiNG DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patehfl d Feb 13, 1917.

Application filed'llarch 2B, 1913. Serial No. 757,385.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gmis'ren B. MILLS, a cltlzen of the .United States,and a resi- [dent of East McKeesport, in the county of Allegheny andState of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inStarting Devices for Automobiles, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to starting devices for automobiles and it hasparticular reference to that type of starting device in which a motorand gear mechanism are employed.

My invention has for one of its objects to provide a mechanism forconnecting a starting motor to the shaft of a gas engine, which may beassembled with the engine parts and form a unitary structure with theengine.

A second object-of my invention is to provide a means for mounting thegear mechanism of a starting motor which will require a very small spacein addition to that necessary for-the engine parts.

A further object of my invention is to provide a means for protectingand lubricating the, gearmechanism which connects the starting motor tothe engine shaft by utilizing a portion of the engine structure for thispurpose. In the use of starting motors, as ordinarily employed inconnection with the gas engines of automobiles, or other motor vehicles,it has been the practice to assemble the motor and the gear mechanismand attach them to their respective supports after the,

engine is in place. The gear mechanism must be so arranged as not tointerfere with the moving parts of the engine and an additional casingis required to protect the said mechanism' frorn'dirtor elements.-- Inmy invention, these objections are, avoided and l the above, objects areaccomplished by placing the gear mechanism in the crank case, of theTiism." attache broken away;

engine and attaching the starting motor di rectly tothebrank case.

Myinvention is d" scribed in detail in con IIGCiJlOIl'Wll'Jh theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an end view, in elevation,

of a gas engrne withthe starting mechaereto, parts being broken is asectional view on line ,1, parts of the engine being Aportion of the gasengine of an automobile is shown at 1, the: remainder being broken awayfor the sake of clearness. The

engine comprises a Clitlk shaft 2, and a crank case 3 that is com ioscdof two members i and 5. The era 11k shaft 2 is provided with a mainbearing (3 that is suit ably connected to the crank case and a hearing'Tupon a framemeriber 8. The memher 5, which forms the lower part of thecrank case, is provided with an opening 9 that is covered by adetachable housing 10.

A cylindrical recess 11 is formed with sub ters the motor. The mol orshaft 18 extends into the crank case thr high a bearing 19 that is inaxial alinemen; with the rtcess 11.

The motor shaft is pro ided with atpinign 20 that is located in th:opening 9 and is covered by the housing 1.0. a

The pinion 20 meshes with a ear wheel 21 that is keyed to a Si aft 22.he shaft 22 is supported in bearings 23 and 24 that are locatedrespectively in the front wall of the crank case and in :1 lug 25 thatis integral with the crank case. A pinion 26 is loosely mounted on theShaft 22 and is provided with a one-way clutch of the roller type. Thisclutch comp rises rollers27 that are mounted in inclined grooves (not 22when the motor is d] iving. l

A gear wheel 28 is sli iably and rotatably mounted upon an exter' dedsleeve portion 29 of the main bearing 6. The rear face of the hub of thegear wheel 28 is provided with inclined clutch tee th 30 which co-actwith similar teetlrfil on a clutch member 32 that; is fixed on theengine shaft. The

of the gear wheel 28.

'lluflgear Wheel 28 has an integral rooved he member 35 shown) and areadapted to engage the shaft I teeth ol the pinion 26 are ofsuch length.that they are always in nesh with the teeth by bearings 37 and 38heated, respectively, I

i a lug 39 on the crank case wall and in the side wall of the crankcase. The rock shaft BBisactuated by a lever that is connected by anysuitable means to a pedal or lever (not shown) near the operators seat.When it is desired to start the'engine, the

' '5 gear wheel 28 is shifted backwardly by the mechanism justdescribed, to effect the engagement of the clutch teeth 30 and 31. Themotor, which may be a dynamo electric machineor n fluid pressure motor,is then operated through anysnitable eonnections'to "l ro'tate theengine shaft through the reduction gear mechanism above described. Whenthe engine starts under its ownpower, theroller clutch allows the gearWheel 28 todrive the pinion 26 faster than the shaft 224s rotated by themotor.

clutch teeth 31 would overrun the clutch teeth 30, but its use isdesirable in order to avoidan unpleasant chattering noise-"that isproduced bythe clutch teeth 30 and, 31v as they slip past each other.When the operato'rreleases the pedal, the gear wheel 28 is shifted toits inoperative position by a suitable spring (not shown) that may beat-. tached to the shifting. mechanism.

By means ofthe construction above described, the gear mechanism maybeassembled with the-engine structure andthe motor attached when desired.The gear mechby removin I, p which attac anism is protected by the crankcase and is lubricated by the oil in the crank case as it is splashed bythe cranks of the engine shaft. The-motor may be detached readily thehousing 10 and the bolts the motor to the bracket 15. The employment ofa one-way clutch in- "sures thatno operative connection can bemadebetween-the engine shaft and the motor when the engine is running.By'mountmingthe gear wheel 28on the bearing 6, 1-

,1' -avoidithe constant wearcaused by mount 1 ing a gear or a clutchmember upon a re,

vtatin'g. part of the engine, v

is. mderstoodthat such changes may a fall within be made in the detailsof my invention as I I the limits of the appended claims 1 jiIfclaim asmy invention: v

1.111 a starting device, the combination with 'anengine having a crank'shaftIanda crankcase, .of a starting motor,'and means within said crankcase for operatively connecting said motorto said crank shaft.

in,saidcrankcase for operatively connect- 2., In a starting device, thecombination v1 th an engme having a. shaft andal crank case, of-a motor,and gear mechanism with- I .i ng'said-motor to saidsha-ft,

" 3. ]?11- a starting device, the combination with "an engine havinga'crank shaft and The use of the roller-clutch isnot necessary, becausethe ing a crankshaft and a crank 1 means for rotating said gear crankcase,-. pt mQtQ r outside Saidcrank shaft.

5.'In a starting device, the combination with an engine having a crankshaft and a crank case, of a clutch mechanism within and a motor.operatively connected to one of "said clutch'mem'bers. I 6. In astarting-device, the combination with an engine having a crank shaft anda crank case, of a motor -means-within said said crank case comprising,two members, one of which rotates with said crank shaft,

crank case for operatively connecting said motor. to said crank shaft,said means comshifting said member.

.@7. In a starting device, the combination with an engine havin a crankshaft and a crank case, of a main hearing for said shaft, a-gcarmechanism within said crank cas comprising a member rotatably mounted onsaid main bearing means for opera'tively connecting said member and saidshaft, and

means for actuating said gear mechanism.

device, the combination,

8. In a startingI w1th an engine I avmg a crank shaft, a crank case anda main beam for said shaft, of a clutch mechanism 1' ithin said crankcase comprising a member .fiked on prising a "shifta'ble member, andmeans for" said shaft and a member rotatably and slidably mounted onsaid main means for rota tin said rotatablemember. 9. The comblnatlonwith an engine bay:

way clutch mechanism within said crank bearing, and r 4 ing acrank shaftand a crank case," 'o'f a oneuse comprising a-"member which' rotates,with said shaft, and means for'rotating said clutch mechanism.

-. 10. Thecdinbination with an engine hav'-,

case, ofai one rank ing a crank shaft and a crank way clutch mechanismwithin sai case comprising a member which ates . with said shaft andinsane for rotating said clutch mechanism comprising reduction.

gear mechanism in said crank case. a

11. The combmatlon with an engine havcase. having of a hOT Sing anopening in one of 'itswalls,

for said opening, a gear member within said housing, means-foroperativelv-connectinge said gear member to said crankshaft, and

memberg 12, In a starting. device, the l l with an engine having a crankshaft and a crank case, of a one way clutch'mechanism fu shin said crankcase comprising two mem; hers, .one of whichrotates with said crank Icombmationmeeting said. motor for said opening,

shaft, a motor outside said crank and reduction ear mechanism opnmtivelyconto one of said clutch members.

13. In awstarting mechanism, the combination with an enginn comprising+1 casing having an. opening, and. a detachable cnyer Of a gear Wheel insaid casing, 11 motor outside said CHISiJTng 001m prising a shaft havinga, bearing btween.....l;

said casing and said carer.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto snbscnbed my name fins .flnd (lay ofMarch 1913, CHESTER B. MILLS.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. N. PALMER, B. B. J'IINES.

